Same old story: Noble/Wells too much for Hawks

Tuesday

Jan 21, 2014 at 2:00 AM

DOVER — Monday's early start may have thrown off the Noble/Wells boys hockey team for a period, but the Knights soon awoke to handle rival Marshwood/Traip, 5-1, in Western Maine Class A action at the Dover Ice Arena.

Mike Whaley

DOVER — Monday's early start may have thrown off the Noble/Wells boys hockey team for a period, but the Knights soon awoke to handle rival Marshwood/Traip, 5-1, in Western Maine Class A action at the Dover Ice Arena.

Noble/Wells fell behind 1-0 in the first period, but then rattled off the next five goals to claim its fourth win over the Hawks this season.

"They just wanted it more than we did," said Marshwood/Traip coach Eric Royal. "They outworked us. We got out of what we were supposed to do. We didn't work the system. At the end of the day it came down to they won the little battles and we didn't."

Ryer Smith had four points (goal, three assists) to lead the Knights (8-2), while freshman Kadin Lessard added his two goals in the second period, including the game-winner.

"I think we were just getting the puck to the net more," said Smith. "We were capitalizing on opportunities in front of the net. We weren't in front of the net in the first period. We got in front of the net and got the rebounds. Tyler (Gagnon) is a good goalie, so we had to get those second chances."

Marshwood/Traip (4-6) took a 1-0 lead at 8:22 of the first period on a power-play goal by Joe Cohn, who knocked in Brandon Cagnina's shot from the point.

Noble/Wells scored just over 90 seconds later when Ryan Marsh made a rush down the right side and then beat Gagnon (37 saves) for the equalizer.

Lessard then struck with his two goals late in the second period to put Noble/Wells up for good. The first came on a backhand from the mid slot that beat Gagnon high from Smith and Chullainn Kelly at 4:58.

"There were a lot of people in front, so I threw it there," Lessard said. "I thought it was going over the net, but it went in."

The second came during a mix-up in front. Smith got the puck back in front and Lessard was there to clean it up at 2:56.

"I saw a lot of chaos in front of the net, so I just threw it in there and hoped for the best," Smith said. "We were starting to get more confident a that point. We came out kind of slow in the beginning, early morning game. Once we got going, got some pucks in the net, we started getting more confidence and that let us just play our game."

Marshwood/Traip had two good chances early, but Troy Stevens and Devon Mitchell were both stopped by Wyatt Ricker (22 saves).

Noble/Wells nearly put the game away in the first few minutes of the third as Dean Pratt was stopped by Gagnon and Smith hit a post.

The Hawks then had their opportunities to close the gap, but a mini-break by Joe Spinney was stopped and Stevens was on the doorstep but Ricker stuffed his shot.

The Knights added two goals to put the game on ice. Kelly (goal, assist) made a strong mid-ice rush and beat Gagnon with a wrister from the left circle from Smith and Tyler Whitten (two assists).

Smith scored the final goal with 57 seconds to play, redirecting Tyler Whitten's shot for the four-goal lead.

"I think we came in taking things for granted," said Noble/Wells coach Keith St. Cyr of the first period. "I'm glad. It was a good wake-up call."

Once the Knights got going, they were playing their brand of hockey.

"That's what we really focus on to try to get shots in traffic in front of the net," St. Cyr added. "So obviously if we're not awake in the first period, we're not where we should be. I think they blocked a lot of our shots in the first period. But (Lessard) was in the right place at the right time to score those two goals."

Noble/Wells outshot the Hawks by a count of 42-23.

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